Friday, March 29, 2002
New Beetle a more powerful flower
It's retro. It's cute. It's the only car with a standard flower vase on the dashboard.
Audio books help drivers keep on truckin'
VALDOSTA, Ga. -- On a lonely interstate after midnight, long-haul truckers can always count on Michael Taylor to keep them awake.
'He Lives'
Several years ago we had a resident who always asked for the hymn, "He Lives." She asked for it so often and sang it with such feeling, that the words to the hymn became a beloved part of our worship at Bethany.
Area religious broadcasters discuss rift in organization
The firestorm that erupted last month over the forced resignation of the National Religious Broadcasters' new president reveals a deeper rift within the organization, according to area members.
Convert to Judaism hopes to become country's first black female rabbi
DENVER (AP) -- Alysa Stanton's spiritual journey started in her childhood, when she and her family attended a Pentecostal church. As a young adult, she explored other religions, eventually choosing Judaism.
The miracle of faith
In a book titled "Faith Dynamics" by Dr. Don Bierle, there is a story about a hypothetical situation. You are led to a massive hallway lined with doors on each side. These doors are labeled with every significant thing that mankind can have knowledge of.
Lord of Life women make quilts for those in need
BAXTER -- Nine women parishioners at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter produced, with their hardworking hands, 57 full-sized quilts, 32 children's quilts and 11 lap quilts in their latest "quilting season."
A skeptical British bishop and a British-trained believer take totally different tacks on Easter
It has been a busy Lent for Bishop Richard Holloway, the just-retired leader of Scotland's Episcopal Church, who is bidding to supplant U.S. Episcopal Bishop John Spong as Anglican Christianity's heretic of the moment.
Ten Commandments plaque is favorite backdrop for Tennessee county weddings
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- The Ten Commandments plaque in the Hamilton County courthouse is serving as the backdrop for a makeshift wedding chapel.
Church Briefs
St. Paul's Episcopal Church will have a Good Friday worship service at 7 p.m. with Stations of the Cross. The Easter celebration will start with Saturday's Easter vigil with baptisms at 7 p.m. It is tradition to bring bells.
The place of the Bible in modern life
I was fascinated with a recent guest column that offered "another view" of the place of the Bible in modern life.
Disposal woes
Dear Heloise: My kitchen sink drains through a garbage disposal and lately has been draining slower than normal. I tried using eggshells and coffee grinds through the disposal, but neither has done much good.
Teens who watch more television are more prone to violence, study says
WASHINGTON -- Teen-agers who watch more than an hour of television a day during early adolescence are more likely to be violent in later years, researchers say.
Crash into mailbox damages car, destroys friendship
DEAR ABBY: Two weeks ago, my friend "Shannon" came over with her children for a play date.
Parents fear and cherish terrible twos
QUESTION: My baby is only a year old and she is a joy to my husband and me. But your description of toddlerhood is kind of scary. It's just around the corner. Are the "terrible twos" really so terrible?
Diseases spread by sex often hidden
DEAR ABBY: I want to respond to "Hurt and Mad in Okemos, Mich.," who wants to sue her boyfriend, "Mack," for giving her a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Wednesday 48, a year ago 142.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Wednesday cattle: 300.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Thursday cattle: 300.
Safety advice for foods served this time of year
Using a food thermometer when preparing springtime meals is essential to safe cooking, which is one of the four steps in preventing food borne illness.
Try these recipes on Easter weekend
Easter -- such a special time that marks the start of spring.
Ham for Easter
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- Any way you slice it, cured ham with its smoky, sweet flavor is a favorite Easter menu meat choice. Now is the time to start shopping for a ham and thinking about how you want to season and garnish it.
Metals
NEW YORK (AP) Spot nonferrous metal prices Thursday.
Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department responded Wednesday to a car stuck in the car wash next to Casey's convenience store at 118 Washington St.
School lunch menus
BRAINERD
Court
WALKER -- Daniel Fred Larson, 45, Backus, was charged recently in Cass County District Court with two counts of second-degree assault.
Metals
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices Wednesday.
Testing of middle-aged to prevent 'pre-diabetes' from becoming full-blown urged
WASHINGTON -- Most middle-aged people should be tested during their next visit to the doctor to find if they have "pre-diabetes," a type of high blood sugar that puts them at superhigh risk of getting full-blown diabetes, say new guidelines.
Long-forgotten smallpox vaccine turns up; U.S. supply now adequate
WASHINGTON -- A pharmaceutical company has discovered 70 million to 90 million long-forgotten doses of smallpox vaccine in its freezers, instantly increasing the known U.S. inventory of the vaccine six-fold and ensuring the nation an adequate supply in the event of a bioterrorist attack, according to government sources familiar with the find.
U.S. asthma rates may be declining, CDC says
ATLANTA (AP) -- Asthma rates in the United States may be leveling off or even declining after rising steadily since the 1980s, federal health officials said Thursday.
Drug costs continue steady climb
For the fourth straight year, prescription drug spending rose more than 17 percent in 2001, driven in large measure by a handful of heavily advertised, high-priced medications, a nonpartisan study released Thursday found.
Show off style in the kitchen
If a new or remodeled kitchen is in your future, be prepared for myriad choices to show off your personal style. Abandon any rules you think "must" be followed in kitchen planning. The sky's the limit.
Design K-11 has transitional features
Design K-11 has an appealing faade that looks "kind of Victorian, kind of country."
Program offers free housing to CLC students who volunteer
The student living area at the Brainerd Regional Human Services Center is furnished with a TV, VCR, computer with Internet, phone, lounge area, laundry and a kitchen supplied with small appliances.
Take 'Tree Planting 101' on the Internet
Along with spring comes the chance to plant trees and shrubs in your yard. To help with the chance of success, "Tree Planting 101" is located on the University of Minnesota Extension Service-Forest Resources Web page.
Daffodils should be pulled, not cut
Daffodils grown to be cut flowers should be pulled, not cut, said Brent Heath, of Brent and Becky's Bulbs in Gloucester, Va.
Tips to remove hard-water stains
Hard water leaves its mark on shower walls and glass shower enclosures in the form of crusty little white lime deposits that sometimes seem as though they're going to be impossible to remove.
Here's a welcome primer on home theater
There are millions of DVD players, surround-sound speaker systems, audio-video receivers, videocassette recorders and color televisions, but only a handful of books that explain how they work, how to set them up properly and how to sift though the stupefying jargon of home theater.
Home meets family space needs
Your family's space and lifestyle needs are easily met in this thoughtful design, Plan K-11, by the Homestore Plans and Publications Designers Network. Its floor plan covers 3,110 square feet of living space.
Picture-it-Painted awards announced
Valspar Corp. announced its annual selections for the Central Minnesota Picture-it-Painted program.
Housing Briefs
Tammy Sieckert recently joined Tower Real Estate, Inc., Brainerd, as a real estate agent.
Don't overlook trees in your garden
Long lasting good looks in a garden starts with the big stuff, the shade and flowering trees around which the rest of the garden can be built.
Time to remodel? Consider needs before house appreciation
Thinking of remodeling? Wondering how much a new kitchen would add to the value of your house? Or how long it would take to recoup the cost of a new deck?
Floor-to-ceiling excitement
We recently attended the "Surfaces 2002" trade show in Las Vegas. The focus was on all things new in flooring and c
Leave messages with 'talking' refrigerator
Tired of those fruit-shaped magnets and sticky notes plastered all over the refrigerator?
Prevent weeds before they emerge
This spring marks an important milestone for University of Minnesota Master Gardeners -- 25 years of helping Minnesotans with their garden, lawn and landscape questions.
Recount trims margin of victory but doesn't alter outcome of school bond referendum
The recount of the Brainerd School District's $59.9 million bond referendum Thursday edged the margin between the yes and no ballots four votes closer.
BHS band to play at Twins season opener
The Brainerd High School Symphonic Band will perform during pregame ceremonies April 12 at the Minnesota Twins season opener at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.
Pierz graduate to be superintendent there
PIERZ -- George Weber, a 1981 graduate of Pierz Healy High School, once again will walk the halls of Pierz schools.
Residents say vandalism of apartment was race-related, but county attorney not so sure
Residents of a Walnut Street apartment in Brainerd that was extensively vandalized Wednesday say the incident is race-related. The Crow Wing County attorney doesn't agree.
This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1982) - Mayor C. Elmer Anderson has proclaimed April 2 to 4 as Daffodil Days in Crow Wing County and urges all residents to support cancer research by buying a daffodil.
C-I hires sub as superintendent
CROSBY -- People from the Crosby-Ironton School District may recognize the new superintendent.
Check, credit card thefts increasing, city police say
Brainerd Police Investigator Chad Kleffman often sees how easy check and credit card theft can be.
Let the recount begin
Crow Wing County District Court Judge Fred Casey swore in the election judges who conducted the Brainerd School District bond referendum recount today in the Crow Wing County Service Building. The bond referendum passed by 97 votes March 12. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)
Three arrested
The Brainerd Police Department is investigating an attack Wednesday by a group of males at a house on Walnut Street.
This was Brainerd
60 years ago (1942) - Veterans of the Northern Pacific Railroad and there are some in Brainerd who are members of the Association, dipped deep into their money chest to purchase National Defense bonds. The amount purchased was approximately $1,036 in these war time gilt-edge securities.
FOUR MORE 'NO'
The outcome of Thursday's recount of the Brainerd School District's $59.9 million bond referendum was what school officials expected.
Spring reflection
A trailered boat, which looked like it had been on shore all winter, was reflected in the channel that connects Upper South Long Lake and South Long Lake Tuesday. (Dispatch Photo by Clint Wood)
Grand jury indicts 2 in Moon murder
A Crow Wing County grand jury believes two Brainerd men acted with premeditation in the killing of 35-year-old Billie Joe Moon.
Local brief
The Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional Airport Commission will meet 10 a.m. Wednesday in the airport conference room.
Student housing
A collaborative effort is providing opportunities for student housing and volunteerism. Look for the story in Friday's Housing section.
Students explore ocean life firsthand as Underwater Adventures team visits area
Students in the Brainerd School District were on spring break this week, but that didn't mean it had to be a break from learning.
Spring has sprung
In the Central Lakes College greenhouse, students Chris Gmeinder of East Gull Lake and Lisa Blexrud of Staples checked a few of the Easter lilies grown along with thousands of other signs of spring.
Just for fun
A couple who lives southeast of Brainerd taps maple trees to make maple syrup just for fun. Look for their story Sunday in North Country.
Boston drops lawsuit against gun industry, cites financial concerns
BOSTON (AP) -- The city of Boston, citing financial concerns and improved weapon safety measures, dropped its lawsuit against the gun industry Wednesday.
Raggedy Ann joins National Toy Hall of Fame
SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Raggedy Ann, a symbol of wholesomeness and simpler times, joined flashy Barbie as a National Toy Hall of Fame inductee on Wednesday -- thanks in part to a letter-writing campaign by legions of fans.
Boise Cascade ending old-growth logging
BOISE, Idaho -- Boise Cascade Corp., a major timber company, says it is ending the logging of old-growth forests in the face of opposition from environmentalists.
Study: Tens of thousands of New Yorkers suffered mental problems after Sept. 11
NEW YORK (AP) -- Researchers studying the psychological effect of the events of Sept. 11 on New Yorkers estimated that more than 150,000 residents suffered post-traumatic stress disorder or depression following the World Trade Center attack.
'Mr. Television' Berle dies
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- It was 1948 when a nearly middle-aged funnyman who had grown up in vaudeville decided to take a chance on a new entertainment medium. Neither television nor Milton Berle would ever be the same.
Two Green Berets win posthumous Silver Stars
WASHINGTON -- The Green Berets who helped take Tarin Kot knew victory over the Taliban had come too easily -- not one shot fired -- and steeled themselves for a counterattack.
Death penalty to be sought against Moussaoui
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department told a court Thursday it will seek the death penalty against Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against New York and Washington.
VA to probe report of maggot infestation
WASHINGTON -- Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi reassigned two administrators of the VA hospital system Thursday and ordered investigations into a medical journal's report that maggots infested the noses of two comatose patients in one facility.
NPR wins Peabody Award, as do 'Nightline,' 'Bernie Mac'
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- ABC News and National Public Radio won Peabody Awards on Wednesday for their coverage of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and ABC's embattled "Nightline" also was honored with one of the annual awards for broadcast excellence.
U.S.: Plan to slash Colombian drug crops a failure
FLORENCIA, Colombia -- State Department officials have concluded that an alternative development plan aimed at slashing drug crops has failed, a decision that raises doubts about the U.S.-backed effort to eradicate the primary source of narcotics on America's streets.
U.S. airman convicted of rape in Okinawa
NAHA, Japan (AP) -- A U.S. airman was sentenced to nearly three years in a Japanese prison Thursday for raping a woman on the southern island of Okinawa, an area simmering with tension over the thousands of U.S. troops based there.
Oscar-winning movie director Billy Wilder dies
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Ever the contrarian, Oscar-winning filmmaker Billy Wilder made a career of romanticizing cynicism.
Navy helicopter crash kills two
LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. (AP) -- A Navy helicopter crashed Thursday in a snowy, remote area of the Sierra Nevada range, killing two crew members and injuring four, authorities said.
Pentagon cites friendly fire death
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The first U.S. soldier killed during the Operation Anaconda assault on al-Qaida this month in Afghanistan may have been hit by friendly fire, officials disclosed Friday.
Nuclear industry bets trips to casinos will win waste site support
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Book it now. Ride the rail cars into Nevada's Yucca Mountain. Spend an afternoon at the proposed nuclear waste storage site. Get two or three days in Vegas. Travel, hotel, meals paid for by the Nuclear Energy Institute.
Three soldiers killed, one injured in accident during live-fire training
FORT IRWIN, Calif. (AP) -- Three soldiers were killed early Friday in a training exercise involving live ammunition, military officials said.
Economic rebound better than estimated
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. economy, which fell into recession in early 2001, was already bouncing back in the final three months of the year, growing at an annual rate of 1.7 percent.
Ford ends tire replacement program
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ford Motor Co. will stop giving free replacements for Firestone tires on Sunday, ending an enormously costly recall that damaged the reputations of two of the most venerable corporate names.
Despite Mideast violence, U.S. envoy making progress
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni is making headway in talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials but he cautions that hopes for peace will be destroyed if violence persists.
Dudley Moore dies at 66
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Dudley Moore, whose comedy contained a touch of melancholy, always said he was driven to success by his mother's rejection in the acting business and his own feelings of inferiority.
Bargain-basement gas is history as higher demand, production cuts push up prices
SAN DIEGO -- Caps on oil production and the traditional spring rise in gasoline demand have pushed up prices at the pump 23 cents per gallon over the last month -- the most dramatic change in more than a decade.
KANSAS
ATLANTA (AP) -- Roy Williams figures Atlanta owes him one.
Davis had bumpy road to Atlanta
ATLANTA (AP) -- Mike Davis took the criticism a little too hard. He fretted about the impact on his family. He even thought of quitting.
Two minorities coaching in Final Four for first time
ATLANTA (AP) -- Maybe this is a sign of progress.
Tourney means big business for Vegas
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Sports fans call the NCAA men's basketball tournament March Madness. Las Vegas casinos just call it profitable.
THE FINAL FOUR
National Semifinals
INDIANA
ATLANTA (AP) -- Dane Fife keeps replaying the blunder in his head, even though it didn't keep Indiana out of the Final Four.
The matchups
OKLAHOMA vs. INDIANA
Alfonseca traded to Cubs
With Tom Gordon out for the foreseeable future, the Chicago Cubs needed a closer.
National sports shorts
TENNIS
MARYLAND
ATLANTA (AP) -- Last year, the Maryland Terrapins were the rookies in the Final Four. This time, they are the only ones with experience in the national semifinals.
Connecticut numbers look unreal
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Connecticut's numbers on its way to the women's Final Four are so staggering, you would think somebody made them up.
OKLAHOMA
ATLANTA (AP) -- Oklahoma has come up with a different way to build a Final Four team.
Union reaction surprises owners
NEW YORK (AP) -- Baseball's chief operating officer said he was surprised Wednesday that the players' union interpreted the commissioner's no-lockout pledge as a possible prelude to a change in work rules after the World Series.
Marietta E. Harris
PIERZ -- Marietta E. Harris, 80, Pierz, formerly of Green Prairie Township, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls.
Jarild L. Hanson
LITTLE FALLS -- Jarild L. Hanson, 86, Little Falls, formerly of Cushing, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls.
Willmer F. Knight
AITKIN -- Willmer F. Knight, 95, Aitkin, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at Riverwood Health Care Center in Aitkin.
Roseina L. Padgett
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Roseina LaVeda Padgett, 71, Lawrence, Kan., died Tuesday, March 26, 2002, at home.
Helen Lanoue
AITKIN -- Helen Lanoue, 84, Aitkin, died Thursday, March 28, 2002, at home.
Dale O. Lind
PEQUOT LAKES -- Dale Otto Lind, 53, Pequot Lakes, died Thursday, March 28, 2002, at the Grove House in Pequot Lakes.
Alfred 'Happy' Holter
Alfred "Happy" Holter, 94, Brainerd, formerly of Pequot Lakes, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.
John J. Roster
AITKIN -- John J. Roster, 76, Aitkin, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at home.
George Hansen
PALISADE -- George Hansen, 92, Palisade, died Thursday, March 28, 2002, at Riverwood Health Care Center in Aitkin.
Ralph C. Shivers
ONAMIA -- Ralph Clyde Shivers, 72, Onamia, died Tuesday, March 26, 2002, at Mille Lacs Hospital in Onamia.
John O. Reed
BAXTER -- John O. Reed, 51, Baxter, died Tuesday, March 26, 2002, at home.
George H. Molstad
NISSWA -- George H. Molstad, 98, Nisswa, died today, March 28, 2002, at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.
Alfred 'Happy' Holter
PEQUOT LAKES -- Alfred "Happy" Holter, 94, Brainerd, formerly of Pequot Lakes, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.
Lavada A. Erickson
BACKUS -- Lavada Arlis Erickson, 61, Backus, died Monday, March 25, 2002, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village.
John Jarvis
PEQUOT LAKES -- John Jarvis, 83, Sibley Lake area resident, died Thursday, March 28, 2002, at home.
Money can't buy Bush love
President Bush told a United Nations conference on global development in Monterrey, Mexico last week that Americans have an obligation to ``share our wealth'' with poor nations. He proposed a 50 percent increase in foreign aid. He thinks more aid should be in the form of grants, not loans. He would also forgive much of the current Third World debt. The president said new aid would only go to nations that reform their governments, economies and human rights practices.
Vox Pop
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. To call in a comment, dial 829-2900 or 1-800-547-2909 then enter code 8008. To e-mail a comment, write to voxpop@brainerddispatch.com. Comments, which must meet the newspaper's standards of fairness and good taste, may be edited for clarity, length and libel.
OTHER OPINIONS Deer disease
White-tailed deer play an important role in northern Minnesota's environment and economy. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources deserves credit for taking a proactive approach to a disease that could threaten the deer herd here.
Losing houses, but not homes!
I look around at these walls and I wonder whether they will remember me after we sell. Each one having their own memory of me. Distinctively piecing together every detail of my life. Will they remember? All the time I laughed, I cried, or just sat there thinking. Will they remember? The question repeatedly processes through my mind.
Play ball? - Dispatch Editorial
Call it our skeptical nature. We keep looking for the drawbacks in the latest proposal for a Twins stadium.
Evidence of recovering economy makes Democrats' job tougher in 2002 election
WASHINGTON -- Any hopes Democrats had of riding a wave of economic worries to victory in the 2002 congressional elections are fading as consumer confidence rises.
Open Forum
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota knows first-hand the needs of many of our citizens. As the state's largest private non-profit social ser
Open Forum
The face of the Minnesota Legislature is about to change, thanks to the new redistricting plan issued by a special panel of five state judges. The plan is required by the Constitution every decade after the census.
Editorial views
Editorial views in The Brainerd Dispatch represent a consensus of opinion by members of the newspaper's editorial board. Board members are Publisher Terry McCollough, Editor Roy Miller, Associate Editor Mike O'Rourke, Wire Editor Paul Forsberg, City Editor Kathi Nagorski and Neal Gaalswyk, the readers' representative.
Sledder Amanda Johnson of Aitkin wins Pro Women's final in Fargodome
Amanda Johnson of Aitkin raced her Arctic Cat to victory in the Pro Women's final at the third round of the 2002 Super Snowcross Stadium Tour in the Fargodome last Saturday. Johnson, the two-time World Snowmobile Association Snocross Worldwide Championship Series Pro Women class points champion, has won all three of the tour's class finals.
With two wins, black cloud over Roush has lifted
After a miserable season by his own lofty standards, car owner Jack Roush could barely stomach sitting in the audience during the NASCAR awards ceremony last December.
Winston Cup schedule
The 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup schedule and driver point standings:
Fingerhut layoffs set for next week
MINNEAPOLIS -- Keeping to a schedule announced in January, Federated Department Stores Inc. said it will lay off 3,300 Fingerhut employees next week, including 3,000 in Minnesota.
Johnson says open-mindedness can close racial divide
ST. CLOUD (AP) -- Basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson told 3,000 people at St. Cloud State University that open-mindedness can help eliminate the school's growing reputation for intolerance.
No-shows give Moe open mike at gubernatorial forum
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Roger Moe was the clear winner Thursday at a debate for gubernatorial candidates.
St. Cloud State, others, take steps for state digital library
ST. CLOUD (AP) -- St. Cloud State University, the University of Minnesota and Minnesota Historical Society are working to create a digital library that would make cultural collections electronically accessible across the state.
Two women held by Taliban speak to Minnesota crowd
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- After months in an Afghan prison with the "fire of fear" in her bones, Heather Mercer said she was finally ready to give up and die. But then she heard a voice.
State party chair urges Luther not to run against Kennedy
ST. PAUL (AP) -- State DFL Chairman Mike Erlandson has urged 6th District congressman Bill Luther to consider running in the open 2nd District rather than facing Republican Rep. Mark Kennedy.
Reward offered in 1987 Bemidji slaying
BEMIDJI (AP) -- Investigators hope a $50,000 reward will lead to answers -- and suspects -- in the unsolved killing of a Bemidji woman in 1987.
With local aid assured, St. Cloud relaxes hiring freeze
ST. CLOUD (AP) -- St. Cloud will relax a hiring freeze put in place 10 weeks ago when it appeared the state might cut aid to local governments.
Minnesota's health plans are in the black for second straight year
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota's nonprofit health maintenance organizations collected enough money in premiums to cover payouts for patient medical expenses in 2001 for the second straight year.
New $3 million wood treatment plant planned in Duluth
DULUTH (AP) -- The Duluth Seaway Port Authority has agreed to a 50-year lease of vacant land for a new $3 million wood treatment plant.
DFLer says he'll run against Gutknecht
WINONA (AP) -- Todd Rasmussen, a banker and school board member in Winona, is running as a Democratic candidate for the congressional seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Gil Gutknecht.
McGuire, Berg join Capitol exodus in wake of redistricting
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Several more lawmakers have decided what to do about their political futures.
Ventura asserts himself on budget despite being snubbed
ST. PAUL -- As quiet hung over the Capitol on Thursday, Gov. Jesse Ventura made noise over the radio about a budget process that has him on the outside.
Senate also overrides Ventura veto on auto-glass bill
With little debate, the Senate on Wednesday followed the House's lead in overriding a veto by Gov. Jesse Ventura on an auto-glass bill.
MnDOT announces record $1 billion in summer road projects
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Department of Transportation said this summer's record $1 billion road construction budget is still not enough to keep up with what the road system needs.
Woman obtains protection order against Puckett
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A woman who said she had an 18-year affair with Kirby Puckett obtained a court order barring him from having contact with her.
Governor, Twins sticking by ballpark plan
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Gov. Jesse Ventura and the Minnesota Twins are sticking by the so-called "2 percent solution" for a new ballpark in the face of criticism that it's not workable.
'Not a dollar of common ground' as budget talks open
ST. PAUL -- On the day the Legislature hoped to leave town for the year, House and Senate leaders conceded that it'll be a struggle to get done before mid-April.
Local shorts
Julius Tomasy of Brainerd scored the game-winning goal as the North all-stars beat the South all-stars 2-1 for the consolation championship in the Elite Classic Hockey tournament held at Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine.
Bothun leaves Pillager post
PILLAGER -- In three years Pete Bothun made a mark in area athletics and helped create a frenzy for Pillager Huskies athletics.
Pierz 2nd in girls' track
ST. CLOUD -- The Pierz Pioneers girls' track and field team opened the season finishing second at the Central Minnesota Conference indoor meet at St. Cloud State University with 103 points. The Pierz boys' team finished fourth with 68 points.
Scoreboard
College softball
Scoreboard
College softball
He made things happen for Huskies
Good coaches surround themselves with good people.
There'll be a lot of heavy lifting at high school
Some of the state's best weightlifters will invade the Brainerd High School gymnasium Saturday.
Injured Garnett returns, inspires Wolves to beat Dallas 113-111
MINNEAPOLIS -- In his seventh season, Kevin Garnett is still finding ways to surprise people -- even his coach.
Wild offer a lesson
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Thrashers are slowly learning what it takes to win games in the NHL -- mostly by losing.
Twins make final moves, set roster
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- The Minnesota Twins set their Opening Day roster Thursday, making four moves to get the club down to 25 players.
Forbes Magazine says Twins worth $127 million
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A winning season helped the Minnesota Twins' estimated value increase 29 percent to $127 million in Forbes Magazine's annual valuation of major league baseball teams.
Hopkins' Humphries is named AP Player of Year
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The lines between positions in basketball have blurred in the past decade as the game's evolution has continued to increase the emphasis on versatility.
Twins decide on outfield Cuddyer, Kielty sent to Triple-A
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- The Minnesota Twins settled on their outfield Wednesday, optioning Michael Cuddyer and Bobby Kielty to Triple-A Edmonton.
Central Minnesota author publishes children's book for charity
A courageous knight, a generous dragon and an icy king combine in a book designed to inspire children to give something back to their communities.
Children participate in art activities
Learning about the American heritage while doing creative activities was part of the Heritage Festival earlier this month at Brainerd High School.
Take in a show
A pair of movies opening this weekend at area theaters could be worth your attention, in light of their star qualities.
Troupe turns children's writings into plays
LITTLE FALLS -- Their ideas seemed revolutionary, bordering on quirky, when Victor and June Podagrosi founded the Child's Play Touring Theatre more than two decades ago.
Fine Arts Student of the Week
A self-described "performer-at-heart," Adam Ludwig feels right at home in front of a microphone.
Mother who adopted child in Vietnam to share story
"Vietnam, an Adoptive Mother's Experience" is the next Cultural Thursday presentation at Central Lakes College, Brainerd, where biology instructor Sandra Kaplan will give the program.
Free 15-college concert April 5 at Breezy Point
BREEZY POINT -- A free concert will conclude the annual Minnesota Fine Arts Festival on April 5 at Breezy Point.
Easter books abound in bunnies, bonnets and baskets
Wacky Witzy, the duck from Little Suzy's Zoo, and his pals find Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies and bonnets in "Witzy's Backyard Easter Hunt" (Scholastic, ages 2-4, $5.99) by Suzy Spafford.
Pierz couple wants to keep classic country music alive with their Northwoods Opry
ROYALTON -- Traditional country music will always find a home, a place of honor, at an 80-acre wooded horse farm in rural Pierz.
Entertainment Calendar
For week of March 28-April 3; bands perform from 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.
Little Falls teen-ager wins orchestra's youth auditions
Keelan Diehl of Little Falls is this year's winner of Heartland Symphony Orchestra's Youth Auditions.
DC Talk's McKeehan ready to go solo
Toby McKeehan of DC Talk fame makes it official Monday.
Pillager play will re-create history
PILLAGER -- Casting is complete for this spring's Pillager High School drama, "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" by Celeste Raspanti.
Vocal chamber ensemble to be in Staples
STAPLES -- Kantorei, the final event in the 10th anniversary series for Centennial Auditorium in Staples, will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 13.
Student thanks 'Jackie'
Vicky Chaney, a sophomore at Staples-Motley High School, thanked actor Warren Bowles of Mixed Blood Theatre, Minneapolis, for his portrayal of Jackie Robinson, the first black Major Leaguer.
Tempo tidbits
If writing is your thing, you'll want to know about the first-ever Todd County Writers' Roundtable, a one-day workshop April 6 that will consider "Writing in Place" with the help of several area writers and editors.
'Oklahoma!'
The Aitkin High School Choir will present Rodgers' and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!" in the centennial year of Richard Rodgers' birth.
Iowa state forecast
This morning...Rain likely southeast. Scattered showers ending central. Partly to mostly cloudy north. This afternoon...Partly to mostly sunny. Highs from 50 to 60.
Happy Easter
Weather drawing by Dillon Finger of Mr. Johnson's fourth grade class at Baxter school.
Minnesota state forecast national
Today...Mostly cloudy north with scattered morning showers. Partly sunny south with a few showers early. Breezy. Highs from the upper 30s north to near 50 south. Tonight...Mos
State forecast for north dakota
Today...Partly sunny. A chance of rain or snow showers west and central. Breezy to windy. Highs in the 40s.
State forecast for south dakota
Today...Increasing clouds and winds. Scattered light showers north in the afternoon. Highs in the 40s north to 50 to 55 south.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. A chance for afternoon rain and snow showers north and rain showers south. Highs from 40s north to mid 50s southwest.
Regional weather
HighLowPR
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Mostly cloudy north with rain and snow likely north. A chance of rain showers south. Then becoming partly sunny south this afternoon. Highs from near 40 far north to the mid 50s southwest.
Iowa state forecast
Today...Scattered showers ending southeast this morning...Otherwise partly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s to lower 60s.
Minnesota state forecast
Today...Partly sunny an
Happy Easter
Weather drawing by Courtney Metzler of Mr. Trucano's fourth grade class at Baxter school.
State forecast for north dakota
Wind advisory this afternoon southwest...
State forecast for south dakota
Today...Increasing clouds and breezy. Highs in the mid 40s northeast and northwest portions...To the mid 50s far southeast.
Senior activities
LAKES AREA SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER
What's doing
Mitchell Movement. North-South: Ann Whalen and Phyllis DeRosier, 75.5; Mark Anderson and Clayton Haglin, 67. East-West: Sandy Chase and Gordon Becker, 77; and Bruce Eastman and Bill Black, 72.
Names and faces
CLARKSTON, Mich. (AP) -- A district judge has refused to disqualify himself in the case against shock rocker Marilyn Manson.
Names and faces
HOUSTON (AP) -- Country singer Lyle Lovett faces months of rehabilitation following surgery to repair his right leg, broken when he was trampled by a bull while trying to help an uncle who had just been flipped by the animal.
Polish archbishop resigns over sex allegations
WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- An archbishop in Pope John Paul II's homeland announced his resignation Thursday following a Vatican probe and newspaper allegations that he made homosexual advances on young clerics.
Aid pouring into Afghan quake zone
NAHRIN, Afghanistan (AP) -- Food, medicine, tents and other aid supplies began pouring into the quake-shattered northern Afghan region around Nahrin on Thursday after workers used explosives to clear roads leading to the stricken area.
Arab leaders endorse Saudi peace plan
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -- Arab leaders endorsed a Saudi peace plan offering Israel "normal relations" in exchange for withdrawal from all occupied Arab land and a "fair solution" for Palestinian refugees, Lebanon's foreign minister announced Thursday at an Arab summit.
Navy SEAL is land mine victim
A Navy SEAL was killed in southern Afghanistan after stepping on a land mine while conducting a small unit training mission at an abandoned al-Qaida base near the Kandahar airport, defense officials said Thursday.
Peacekeepers set up hospital to tend to thousands of injured by Afghan earthquake
NAHRIN, Afghanistan (AP) -- International peacekeepers set up a mobile hospital Friday in northern Afghanistan to treat the thousands of people injured during a powerful earthquake.
Special operations forces member killed by mine
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) -- A special operations forces member was killed and another serviceman was wounded Thursday when a land mine exploded during a training mission near the U.S. base here.
Israeli forces fire on Arafat's office in assault on Ramallah compound
RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Israeli troops stormed Yasser Arafat's headquarters Friday and shelled a building where the Palestinian leader took cover in a windowless room -- the opening shot in a large-scale military campaign in response to anti-Israeli attacks that killed 30 people in three days.
Israeli top officials meet amid calls for retaliation after suicide attack kills 20, wounds 130
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel's defense minister met with army commanders Thursday amid growing calls for massive retaliation for a Palestinian suicide bombing in a hotel banquet hall that killed 20 diners, many elderly, and wounded 130 at the start of the Jewish Passover holiday.
Suspect in French shooting rampage kills himself
PARIS (AP) -- The suspect in a shooting rampage that left eight officials dead at a city council meeting killed himself Thursday by jumping out a window at police headquarters, another shock to a country already reeling from the carnage a day earlier.